Another shot at it...

Oh Yeah, I did hear about that interview I went for.....

I'm going to London in the morning for the second round interview. It's getting serious now.

Tons of stuff is going on at the moment. We are starting to see some interesting prospects here in Swansea for the first time in the year since we have been here. From church planting to youth work, I guess it will be interesting even if we stay.

On the back on Teenstreet I have been getting asked to help out with some music on 2 DVD projects, one for the Teenstreet DVD and another for my friend Greg over at 3Rock. So I guess I'll be busy in the evenings! But I'm all about that.

I've also gotten some invites to DJ, 2 in Dublin and a tentative invite to Brazil (which I really doubt I can make). So there's plenty on the horizon before Christmas.

What's God saying through all this, well, I'm getting tons out of Hebrews 11. Eoghan and I were chatting and he launched into it the other day (thanks mate) and I have been reading 'The Barbarian Way' by Erwin Raphael McManus & just got t0 the bit about faith.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. (v1+2)

Wow.

How can anything that we do compare to the list of the lives and actions of those faith giants. Or put it another way.... how can we attempt to live a comfortable, settled, civilized life and still call ourselves followers of Christ in the midst of the challenges from the lives of the giants of faith? Isn't Christ's call 'GO' meant to call us to live on the edge of the world between here and now and the eternal? Mentally, physically, emotionally, geographically, spiritually on the cusp of the biggest wave of our lives?

I have been watching loads of surf videos and been finding out more about big wave surfing. It looks terrifying but I know that if i was to start surfing, I wouldn't be satisfied until I tried big wave surfing, even if the consequences were drowning & being dashed on the rocks?

Would you aspire to being towed into a 65 foot wave at 35 miles per hour?

When I read Hebrews 11 I feel the same challenge as seeing some crazy surfer doing the seemingly impossible feet of surfing a massive wave that would destroy whole buildings.
I want my life to have significance beyond comfort & mediocrity, risking all I have for one ride on the biggest wave that God has in store for us.

I'm off surfing........

Waiting to hear

I was invited to an interview of which I'm waiting to hear back from. It was only the first of a possible 3 interview and I'm trying to to get excited but it would be a good thing on many levels.

It would mean us relocating to London, which would rock. Even in the current uncertain climate, London seems like a good place to be.

Where ever is the centre of God's will is a good place to be so if that's London then I guess that's where we will be.

Still waiting.....

...... Patience is a virtue.

I know why, 'cause waiting wrecks your head.

But sometimes we have no choice, we are just placed on the waiting list and it is an opportunity to develop ourselves or allow ourselves to be developed, whether we like it or not.

If you are still waiting, chill, kick back, open your self up to the what ever it is God wants to do with you, in you and through you in the waiting room.

Be still & know....

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Psalm 46:10 (The Message)

Catalyst for Change

That's has been the words that God has been speaking to me over the past little while and I saw it in full effect at Teenstreet. Check out the Face2Face interview with me the picture is sweet (Thanks Ruth for making time for the interview).

Like I said in my last entry we got to change some of the culture of Teenstreet and push some new boundaries which was amazing, but it wasn't done just out of a desire or a need to be radical but out of a place of prayer discernment waiting to see how God has been planning to use Paula & me.

It has been a hard year here in Swansea because we have had to be patient and wait on God. There has been no rushing into things, we've been having a tough time finding church. (But we found 7:22 online and it has helped recently.)

If it's not happening for you right away it might be that you have to be patient and wait a little longer. I know that's hard to hear when you are passionate and itching to change the world, but sometimes the biggest changes in the world have to happen inside you before you can have any chance of making them happen outside of you.

Sorry.....

The road goes ever on and on.....

It's been way too long.

Summer has been great. Busy too.

I am just back from DJing at OM's Teen street in Munster in Germany, you can check out some amazing photos at the website. It was an amazing time hanging with Josh & Debbie (and everyone else). God was powerfully using us all in the lives of everyone there.

I got to lead worship on the last day which was amazingly gracious of the leadership since this was the first time they had a DJ at all & then they let him loose leading worship. God was in it & touching all invoolved. (Special thanks to Christian for translating & watching my back & the dance team for praying & reading in their own languages.) There are pics in the live section for day 6 afternoon, if you are interested.

I ended up playing 17 times in 1 week & gave 2 DJ workshops too. It was busy.

It's also been really busy since I've been back. I was in London on Wednesday for an interview in Starbucks HQ & raced back to close our store. Then on Friday I had more madness as I had to go to Birmingham to meet some press and do coffee tastings & then rush back to close our store again. (Thanks Helen!) So I was wiped by the time Sunday came and I had a day off.

More news on the interview as it arrives.

Bye 4 now, going to make coffee.

R xox

Catalyst of hope

It started to snow last night just when Paula and I were pulling up at home after she had collected me from work. Stepping out of the car there was a visual treat of the puffed up flakes of the first fall hanging in the air deadening all the normal sounds. Some kids were poking their heads out windows and one girls was standing just outside her front door holding her hand up trying to catch a snow flake.

First thing this morning I pulled back the curtain to see if the snow had stuck, there was a small dusting on the roofs of the houses and enough to freeze up the car windscreens all the way up the street but there was no signs of any left on the ground. As my hope of enough snow to make at least 1 snowball faded I realised that it was a glorious morning. The sun was up strong in an ultra-clear, pale blue sky. It's warmth was melting the remaining ice on the cars and paths making it safe for our neighborhood to get on with our morning without deicer.

The white of the snow did not last long but in that tiny moment when Paula and I stood at our front door with a little hope that it would snow all night, it reminded me that sometimes all we need is the smallest glimmer of hope, the tiniest light in the dark will do to kill the darkness and lift our spirits.

I am going to go to work and try to be a catalyst of hope for my colleagues, our customers and anyone else who is close enough to interact with.

If you want more on the subject of hope check out the mp3 of Erwin Raphael McManus' talk over at mosaic.org.

Me little head is lifted out of it.

My head is now being fried by Brian Mc Laren's book 'A new kind of Christian', powerful stuff (thanks Mum). It describes a discussion between two friends about the state of the Church (& Christianity in general) and the move including associated difficulties from being modern to being post-modern or pre-something. It's quite personal in it's scope but I do think that we have to start with each one of us changing before we can effectively affect change in church or society. If you can get your hands on it have a read of it.

I'm trying to read the bible through my post-modern eyes and I'll let you know about that over time (it's all change that has been affected by McLaren's books).

I have just passed my Core 2 assessment in Starbucks and I unofficially got my hands on the Store Coffee Master's black apron! I never thought the green one went with my hair. In fact I've just worked the last 7 days straight (I've turned into such a fader since I have retired from IT). Today I am making the most of it and I am sitting in front of my Powerbook, coffee in hand and as soon as I post this I will get on with making some music.

Hopefully I will get some links to some of my own produced music for yis all to have a listen to.

The New Year a great time to......

I haven't been busy blogging recently but I have been writing quite a bit.

It is my hope for 2005 to use my blog as a place to publish my writing, to help me in the process of developing my style and to give me a place to have others read it and comment.

I'll get back real soon when I've nailed my thoughts on my new years resolutions.

Later

Roly

It's Christmas time & there's no need to be afriad.

But he said to them, “It is I; don't be afraid.” - John 6:20 (New International Version)

It is true that because Jesus came into the world, we have nothing to fear for. Again and again, one of the consistent messages in the bible is do not be afraid. In fact it's a message that God speaks to his people because of his love, his power, his majesty 356 times in the bible that's once a day for a whole year. So, what ever you are facing right now in this scary & crazy mixed up world, don't be afraid.

If I don't get to speak to you all personally, have a very Happy & Blessed Christmas.

The Jesus Creed by Brian McLaren

I have just started hearing a lot about Brian McLaren and I'd love to read some of his books, I guess it will have to wait until after Christmas at this stage. I found this on Brian's website (anewkindofchristian.com) and I have to share it:

We have confidence in Jesus Who healed the sick, the blind, and the paralyzed. And even raised the dead. He cast out evil powers and Confronted corrupt leaders. He cleansed the temple. He favored the poor. He turned water into wine, Walked on water, calmed storms. He died for the sins of the world, Rose from the dead, and ascended to the Father, Sent the Holy Spirit. We have confidence in Jesus Who taught in word and example, Sign and wonder. He preached parables of the kingdom of God On hillsides, from boats, in the temple, in homes, At banquets and parties, along the road, on beaches, in towns, By day and by night. He taught the way of love for God and neighbor, For stranger and enemy, for outcast and alien. We have confidence in Jesus, Who called disciples, led them, Gave them new names and new purpose And sent them out to preach good news. He washed their feet as a servant. He walked with them, ate with them, Called them friends, Rebuked them, encouraged them, Promised to leave and then return, And promised to be with them always. He taught them to pray. He rose early to pray, stole away to desolate places, Fasted and faced agonizing temptations, Wept in a garden, And prayed, “Not my will but your will be done.” He rejoiced, he sang, he feasted, he wept. We have confidence in Jesus, So we follow him, learn his ways, Seek to obey his teaching and live by his example. We walk with him, walk in him, abide in him, As a branch in a vine. We have not seen him, but we love him. His words are to us words of life eternal, And to know him is to know the true and living God. We do not see him now, but we have confidence in Jesus.

Amen.